INTERVIEW: SHANE STEWART: THE STORYTELLER WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE VOICE
Please note that this interview was conducted in November 2024.
What's one of the best feelings you can experience when listening to an artist perform for the first or hundredth time? I believe it's the feeling of being transported to another universe. It's the moment you can vividly paint a story in your mind by simply hearing someone's words. You aren't at the office anymore. You aren't in that city you hate and are desperately trying to leave (Pop Punk joke if you know, you know) anymore. You are mentally in another world. That's how I felt when I heard Shane sing for the first time. The lyrics to "I Told the Moon about us" had me picture a movie scene where a guy sits on a park bench and talks to the moon about the person he loves. Suddenly, I'm not thinking about how crazy and exhausting my day at work was. I'm invested in this captivating, beautiful story shared by somebody with an amazing singing voice. Enjoy my conversation with Shane, a storyteller with an unforgettable voice!
What was the album, artist or band that made you want to write and perform music?
My brother played a lot of music when I was kid. I have always wanted to play guitar like him. I really liked Bob Dylan a lot. I listened to him with my dad. I know the first songs I played were from Mumford and Sons.
Odie Harr is a more specific story. My friend Callahan (who plays acoustic in Odie Harr) and I met at Bar de Courcel open mics. We were friends for a year and half-two years. He loves Neutral Milk Hotel. I love Neutral Milk Hotel. In highschool, I used to bring my guitar to school and play the album "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" from start to finish. He covers some Neutral Milk Hotel songs. I was like: "Oh, we should do a charity night where we cover the entire album". We did it for the Palestinian children relief fund. There are a lot of instruments; French horn, accordion, guitar, over driven guitar, synth, electric guitar, and drums. We asked a bunch of our musician friends to participate. We did a full band cover of the album. On February 16th (2024), we played that show and raised over 1000 Canadian dollar. It was honestly the best night of my life. I was playing bass. Callahan was singing. I cannot sing in that register. I asked a couple of people with whom we did that show; the accordion player Joe and Callahan if they wanted to keep this going. It really stems from Neutral Milk Hotel. Molly who played trumpet at the Neutral Milk Hotel night now plays with us. She made her first appearance with Odie Harr at our show last month (October). She is a full on member. She is on the EP. I am super stoked.
I tried starting a Country project a year earlier. That is where my drummer Matt and Marco come in. I just asked them to join Odie Harr as well. Ben, the bass player is just a sweet soul. Neutral Milk Hotel is how Odie Harr started. It's an amalgamation of people from my life that inspired it. That and Country music.
Before your Country project, were you in any other bands?
In 2017, I released an EP with some friends of mine; a Bedroom Pop project called "Dog Socks". We really rushed putting the EP out. I wrote the songs at a very bad time in my life. I am not super happy with how it turned out. I feel like it could got a lot further. I was making Bedroom Pop but that is not what got me into music. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Neutral Milk Hotel did. I wasn't making anything related to what I really like. Odie Harr is everything I love.
Odie Harr has many members. Is it difficult to find time to practice, play shows, and record music?
It's hard but not that hard because everyone is an absolute gem. The hardest part has been taking time. "Things of quality have no fear of time." If it takes us a while to get into a room together, if it takes us a while to record , it's not necessarily a detriment. On the other side, there is something about doing things while the iron is hot. We try to have as many people at practice as possible. Getting 7 musicians in one room together is tough. A lot of it is being patient with each other. If we cannot make it to practice, if we have to cancel. None of us is interested in playing much more than 1 show every two months. The show is draining. It takes a lot from me. I couldn't do it more often that I am doing it now. Our first show was in June. We have our 4th show coming up. We are taking our time.
What is more challenging to you, performing by yourself or performing with Odie Harr?
They're two very different things. I'm playing a show for my birthday. That's going to be a little less of a performance cause it's my birthday party. I feel like I am doing myself a favor. I definitely prefer playing with Odie Harr. There is a running list of things that are Odie Harr. Yesterday, we practiced near the train tracks and a train passed by and we were like: "That's so Odie Harr!" There is a specific sense of what we're trying to evoke emotional wise and nostalgic wise in terms of presenting songs and ideas. When it comes to playing solo, I can do whatever I want which is a blessing and a curse. I don't like setlists for my solo sets. I just play what I feel like playing. Sometimes, I don't know where to go from here, what do I play next? That's a problem! With Odie Harr, as soon as we finish a show, I write the setlist for the next show and that's all we'll practice until the next show. We don't change it around. That way when the show comes, we know what happens next. It's easier and harder in different ways. I also have much less stage fright with Odie Harr. I have 6 of my best friends up with there with me.
How would you describe Odie Harr’s sound to someone who has never seen you perform? What and who has inspired your sound?
Neutral Milk Hotel, electric Neil Young is very much what I'm going for. What we are trying to do is eclectic. That's the best word to use to describe Odie Harr. Everyone in the project is so different and they all bring something different to the table. Marco, our piano player has been practicing so much salsa piano lately. In between songs at practice, that's what he has been playing. Our bassist plays in a beautiful 3-part harmony Folk band. Molly play a lot of Soul , very not much in the same vein at all. During the last show, I think we opened up with "The Waves of the Danube" a famous Romanian song. Marco knew how to play it on the piano. It sounded good on the accordion.
Are all of your lyrics based on personal experiences?
Yes, they are deep and personal, sometimes a little much. It makes performing the songs tough. It's nerve wracking to do.
You mentioned wanting to play 1 or 2 shows every 2 months, does the fact that your songs are extremely personal and tough to perform have anything to do with that?
That's definitely part of it. There is certain amount of mental preparation I have to get through. I have people pulled me aside: "Hey, great lyrics!" It's nerve wracking to get in front of 60 to 100 people and sing songs about being abandoned, your failed relationships or relationships with family members. It's beautiful! It's something I am glad I have people to do it with but it definitely takes a bit of a toll on me.
Is it difficult for you to write lyrics? Do they come to you naturally?
Yeah, I don't do much editing. If I am going to say a certain message, it might require some attention just to make me happy with conveying it. Some of it just come out like a string of consciousness; that's how it is and that's how it's going to be.
Do you ever put pressure on yourself to use certain words or create a certain imagery?
No, I keep a notes app page of ideas that I find fun, metaphors, and such. There is a song on the EP called "The Horseshoes". It's already a saying "close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades." What I'm thinking about specifically is when I was a kid my sister and I watched "Corner Gas". In that show, there is one episode where the old guy Oscar is playing horseshoes against Lacy or Karen. She's playing this tournament and loses the whole tournament. She looks at Oscar and says: "Well, I came close." Oscar goes:" Well, close only counts in horseshoes." He looks around and realizes he has been playing horseshoes. "You lost anyway." "Corner Gas" was a huge show for me as a kid. It definitely comes in the Canadiana aspect of Odie Harr. I hear words like that and I'm like: "That's a song! I got to put these words in something!" Sometimes, it just comes out as it happens. It's a mix of both. I don't really pressure myself. I'll keep a note app if ever I am writing something and I need some inspiration. I try very hard not to force myself to write anything.
On a lyrical level, is there a song you are more proud of than any other ones?
It's hard to say. I think I am proud of everything in a different way for conveying different things. I think they're just different. I try not to compare them in that way. I think I am just happy we are doing something with my songs.
I have seen you perform twice; at an open mic (hosted by Avery Jane at Cafe Big Trouble) and on a rooftop. Where was the most memorable place where you played a show so far?
It's the Neutral Milk Hotel night. I wasn't singing so maybe it doesn't count. Playing that show was definitely the most memorable experience of my life. I got to play an album that means so much to me for a bunch of people who knew all of the words and for a good cause with a bunch of good friends. In terms of performing my own music, so far it's the roof show. The roof show was so fucking sick! I loved it. I had an absolute blast. I love how everyone came together. No one called the cops. I love Callahan's band and seeing them perform is always great. It was my first time seeing Death Tennis (sort of the same members as Callahan and the Woodpile). Everyone is just so talented. Everything came together beautifully.
If you could have dinner (or grab a beer) with any musician ever, who would it be and why?
Honestly, I think the person I would have the most questions for is Jason Molina of Songs: Ohia. From lyrical content to the execution of his songs, there is something about him and the way he created the works he did, I would have so many questions.
Where would you take him? (If you had to choose one spot in Montreal)
Probably Grumpy's. It's a great spot!
If you could cover any song ever with (Odie Harr or by yourself), what would it be and why?
"The Whole of the Moon" by The Waterboys. It would be a super fun song to do. There are some great trumpet parts that Molly would absolutely kill. There is also some accordion in there.
Who are some of your local favourite artists and bands?
Two of them are in my band which is crazy. I am a huge fan of Callahan and the Woodpile. As a songwriter, Callahan is super talented. He is equally talented as a performer. I went to his Halloween show. The show had to start early and the room was unfortunately more or less empty. Thankfully, the room filled in by the end. It didn't matter to him. He was giving it his all. His presence filled that room 10 times. That's what I am most excited about; having him in Odie Harr, the presence that he brings.
Ben Paquette, my bass player just put out an EP called "Ponderosa". Joe plays on it too. I am not just trying to plug my band but I really did managed to pick my favourite artists in Montreal to join me.
Other than that, I love Mulch and Antenna 93. I think one of the most interesting projects going on in Montreal is Death as it Shook you. It's my friend Timothy's Post-Rock/Noise band. I still remember seeing them live the first time and just being blown away by how big they sounded as a two-piece (back then).
What has been your favourite music-related memory of the year?
Not to get too sentimental or overshare, a lot of Odie Harr's lyrics and a lot of the lyrics to come deal with suicidal ideation and things I have struggled with. I went on tour with a band last summer called Fake Friends. I am really close friends with Matt, Mikey, Timothy. I got to connect with them even more on that tour. I have always heard about Kennedy. This time last year, coming up on my birthday, November 11, they played at La Sotterenea. Matt presented a sermon (they gave out bread and wine). He said: "I invite any of you who have considered non-existence to take part in communion. That's when I realized: "Oh shit! That might be a sentimental night for me". At one point, they only had a few songs left and Matt (among all of the noise and chaos ) very clearly and distinctly says: There is no glory in denying your own existence. It hit me like a ton of bricks. After the set, I went up to Matt and sobbed in his arms. It was one of those moments where I was like: I am so glad I get to be here and experience this I chose to be here. That was probably the most impactful moment of the year musically that isn't related to a performance we did.
What can we expect from you and Odie Harr in 2025?
We have the EP coming out. We have some recording after that we want to get done. I started writing an album. I am about half way through. We are happy with what we did on the EP but we definitely know how we can improve and play together in a way that would feel better for us. Ultimately, if something feels better, it will sound better. In terms of shows, we have our EP launch on January 31.
Is there a song from the EP you are most excited to release or are you simply excited to release the project as a whole?
Releasing the project as a whole will feel really good and cathartic. I wrote these songs way before Odie Harr. Starting to work in a direction more tailored to us will also feel good.
When were these songs written?
I would say over the span of the last 2 to 3 years. Certain songs have sections written at different parts of my life. One thing about those songs; they all were written before I became sober. That's part of why I'm excited to leave it all behind. I'm ready to move on to different topics.
Besides topics you used to write about, do you see a big difference when creating songs sober?
I listened back to the EP a bunch. I don't yearn like I used to. I used to be very sentimental. I used to pine and lament a lot. As time goes on, sobriety makes you focus a lot on the present moment; being mindful in the moment that we're in. It gets harder and harder to lament when I realize I have great friends around me. I live such a full life. I am able to take care of my basic needs. My emotional needs are met. It feels like I would do the family and friends surrounding me a disservice if I kept hoping and yearning for more than what I already have. There is a song called ''I Told the Moon about us'' (Shane plays it live by himself and with Odie Harr). I think it's the first love song I have ever written that does not come from a place of yearning or longing. It was really fun to write.
Close friends of mine (or any friend of mine), local music enjoyers, passionate music fans from across the globe, or whoever you may be, thank you so much for taking the time to read my first publication of 2025. Mark my words; there will be more interviews published here this year. I will work harder than ever to provide the best content. Thank you to Shane for answering my questions in such an honest and vulnerable way. Hopefully, Shane's story has made you eager to listen to Odie Harr's music a listen or want to see Shane perform alongside his talented friends or all by himself.
I know we are already a month in but happy new year, everyone!
Your favourite interviewer/blogger forever (I hope),
Ariane
Links to further discover Shane and Odie Harr
Comments
Post a Comment